Adjustable pliers



Oct. 28, 1958 P. WORKMAN 2,857,795

y ADJUSTABLEPLIEs Filed March 5, 1955 I' 5 Sheets-Sheet l F I G l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March I5, 1955 bis INVENTOR. PAUL WORK-MAN BYum/L/- Wn ATTORNEY Oct. 28, 1958 P. woRKMAN ADJUSTABLE PLIERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 3, 1955 INVENTOR. PAUL WORKMAN SYM@ W01 2,857,795 Patented Oct. 28, 1958 United States Patentiice ADJUSTABLE PLlERS ,Paul.Wgrlfnier1-altim9re-Md- Application March- 3, 11955, Serial N0. .491,860

10,Claim .l (CL: 8.1f351)y This invention relates to.- tools of-amechanicaLnature and, more .particularly to thoseA of. the pliers, clamp. and wrench. classes, and has for, an objectthe provision of a newand-improved tool of this. naturethat-will avoid one or more .of thedisadvantages and limitations .ofthe .prior A .further object of the.,invention..`is .tot provide. new.

and improved toggle pliers.- that -will have ya plurality-.of adjustments that can..be rigidly set.to suit `various sizes of articles, such as nuts, pipe, screws and assembled parts,

and hold themrigidly when the! handlesare closed to-..

gether.

An additional object ofthiszinvention'is'to .provide new andimprovedtoggling pliers of considerable '.leverage ,ap.

plicable in a limited space, withtheirjaws adaptedto operate in quasi-parallel relation toeach other through a minimum amount of spacing in excess .of the periphery of the article to be grasped.

Other objects reside in the combinations ofelements, arrangements of parts andstructural design, as will be apparent in the accompanying drawings and description of preferred forms of the invention.

`vWhile pliers, wrenches and clamps have been extensively developed and intended to havel similar functions, the particular structural difference is in the handle mechanism for manipulating them. Pliers usually have a pair of. handles, adapted to be broughttogether to force their jaws against the selected surfaces of an article or .conversely released therefrom. This invention is 4in this category. One of the objectionsgenerally noted in toggling pliers is that the jaws are operated as outside elements having no provision to maintain their alignment.

In this invention. the toggling jaws are arranged to slide against each other and afford lpositive guidance in their-A movement to keep them aligned. This is especially valuable in the clamping of an article: as it holdszthe latter more securely and lessens the chances for slipping and marring of its surfaces. Likewise the handle elements of the pliers are guided. In both instances adjustments are readily made without danger ofthe adjusted vparts slipping therefrom. In addition these partspare securely bolted in place to maintain such adjustments. Adjustment of. jaws is provided for `in many commonly used pliers, but in most cases it Willpnot maintainrthe adjusted position during practical use,.because, the adjustment has no means that lock it securely. Therel is also a common Infthe drawings:.

Figure ..1 is a. .frontsviewlofftoggling pliers rembodyingr this invention; l

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sketch-of the pliers shown in this embodiment, in open and closed positions, adjusted selectively;r

Figure-3 iis a frontA elevation of` one-ofA the jawmembers,- with dotted. lines indicating/merecess and vspringonthe opposite side, used forv tensioning the-components-of the pliers;

Figure -4 is an elevation of --the other jawmember'of the pliers looking at its inside face;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of Figure 3;

Figure-6 is an outside elevation ofa handle element;-

lFigure y7 is--the elevation of the other -handlejelement looking at. itsv inside face;

Figure 8v Aisy a sidel elevation of4 Figure-6;-v

Figure 9 is a side elevation ofFigure'-7;'

FigurelO'is a-detail offthebolt and pivot mechanism used inthis embodimentg- Figure 11` is a modied formof the pliersgand Figure 12 vis a detail -partly in section,V showing -the adjustable pivotarrangement usedinthe form shownin Figure 11.`

Similar reference characters referto` similar parts l throughout the drawings.

In the construction shown in thev drawings, lparticularly in-Figure 1, togg-ling pliers consist of *four-main com.,-` ponents, there being two jaw members somewhat sym-- metrical inl contour and twofhandle--members likewise symmetrical in-appearance.

Jaw members The jawy members are ter-med right Aand'lettf arbitrarily to makey theirv identiiication easier to follow. The right*A member `is that onthe right of Figure l and theleftfmember to the left. The right membrwisudesignated bythe reference character 10,-and ,ha s ajaw with teeth 11 near itsl terminus, and with the lowerl teeth 12 larger and further inward. Both sets of teethjare V- shaped and are ofthe typical kind included on conventional pliers. A body 13 ldepends frorndthejaw and isjat. It is about half the thickness of the jaw andof polygonal or quadrilateral contour with itsupper border 14slanti,ng towards its lower border 15 whichslants towardsit. f Its other two borders are substantially parallel and merge V,into the arcuate side of the jaw and border 14 as indicatedpin'the drawings, especially in Figure 1 and Figure 3.; The exterior face .w16 of Vthe body is lhat. The interionface 17 is also hat butinaddition has a sunken recess 18 that is alsoflat and extends over a large part of, its area ,to serve as an operatingspace for a` jaw tensioning @wire spring 19 f to retract and expand in during `theV working of the pliers, A-.holew20 in the lower corner of the bodyf13 serves to receive a hinge pin 22 that is screwed through'it.. Another hole 21 in the upper area of thebody is screw threaded and receives the screw threaded end of a pivot stud 123.

The left jaw member hasa jaw with teeth'111 andv f 112 to correspond with those in the jawltl and face them.

The body y113 isvlikewise generally symmetrical having an upper border 114, lower vborder 115 ,a sunken recess: 118` anda corner hinge, hole 120. In addition it has a horizontal slot 121 alignable withgthe hole 21 but con-A siderably largerv longitudinally than the diameter of theformer. The pivot stud 123 although stationary in body 13 can be moved sidewise along the horizontal slot 121v at either end. Arbolt 126 -.isslidable vertically in a slot 125 in body -113 -andfacross the middle of slot 4121'thus. holding the stud 123 attheendof .the..s1ot121 that itis', in at the time. The .sliding -bolt=g126 is kept tensioned.- in position by a wire4 spring 119. suitablyanchored in thee.;

(j recess 118. The spring 119 permits the bolt to be pulled down by a button 127 mounted on it exteriorly, and when released to return and close off the slot 121 at the middle. A corner hinge hole 120 is arranged inthe lower corner of the body 113 as indicated. This hole receives the hinge pin 122.

Handle elements The jaw members are connected to handle elements that in their operation open and close the jaws. The handle element 30 on the right is connected with the jaw member on the right, and handle element 130 on the left with the jaw member 110, by the hinge pins 22 and 122 respectively. These pins pass through hinge holes 31 and 131 in the heads 32 and 132 of the handle elements 30 and 130 respectively. The handle heads 32 and 132 have their upper borders 38 and 138 slanted like the lower borders and 115, and are provided with sunken triangular recesses 39 and 139. 'Ihese recesses are employed to facilitate the resilient tensioning effect of the spring 19, after assembly.

The handle elements are pivoted together through the use of a pivot stud 33 passing through an elongated slot 134 in the head 32 and into a threaded hole 34 in the head 132 aligned with the slot 134. This slot 134 is separable in the middle by a resilient bolt 136 slidable across it, as in the bolt mechanism already described, and referred to, in the jaw members to space them. A button 27 is mounted on the bolt and operates when the pivot pin is selectively located. A coil spring 135 tensions the bolt and is installed in the vertical slot in which the bolt 136 recprocates.

The handles as mentioned are pivoted to one another by the pivot stud 33 movable in a horizontal slot 134. The stud is screwed stationarily in the head 132 and by reason of the bolt 136 may be slid with the head 32 holding it and placed in either end of the slot 134. This gives two pivot positions for the handles to fulcrum on. The bolt 136 slides up and down in the vertical slot and is tensioned upwardly by the spring 135 fastened in the recess. The bolt 136 partitions the slot 134 into two compartments, either of which can be utilized to hold the screw 33 positioned in the selected parts of the heads 32 and 132. The button 27 fastened to the bolt 136 is pressed up and down to actuate it. The handles are preferably knurled for facile handling.

In Figure 11, the modified form of pliers is in general made like that of the first embodiment. However the spring 29 is of coil form and mounted on a telescopic post, in the recesses, formed on the inner surfaces of the jaw bodies. This spring gives tension to the pliers and forces the handles and jaws to normally keep open or apart. This is in place of the spring 19 used in the rst embodiment. In addition the pivot adjustment of the jaws and handles is provided for by the horizontal double looped slot 25 in the jaw member 110 which by reason of its form does not require a bolt, as the intermediate tongue 26 takes its place. Since the whole device is under the tension of the spring 29, the pivot screws will not slip out of place, until forcibly made to do so.

In the operation of the pliers, the inward pressure exerted by the user on the handles 30 and 130 causes a pivotal swing on the lower pivot screw and under leverage it brings the heads 32 and 132 outwardly. This leverage is transmitted to the screws 22 and 122 and forces the bodies 13 and 113 inwardly pivoting on the upper screw. This brings the jaws inwardly, in toggle action. The pivot screws are varied in position in their respective slots to suit the work to be handled by the pliers and when set they will not slip out of adjustment.

In the formation of the jaws, the need for teeth is not essential in all uses. In some cases it is preferable to dispense with them, and for this reason they are not shown in the diagrams of Figure 2. In another instance the angle of the terminating portions, as at 11,.and 111, can

4 be varied, either on one Vside or both, especially where the position of the fulcrum makes this desirable.

While but two forms of the invention have been indicated in the drawings and described herein, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to such particular forms as it is appreciated that other constructions could be designed and made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. Improved toggling pliers comprising a pair of jaws, pivot means between said jaws including a pin carried by one of said jaws and an elongated slot in the other of said jaws whereby said pin is adjustable in two opposite positions in said slot, means for maintaining the pin in either of said opposite positions, a pair of handles each having a portion pivoted to each of the jaws, and additional pivot means between said handles, said last-named means including a pin carried by one of said handles and an elongated slot in the other of said handles whereby the last-named pin is adjustable in two opposite positions in said last-named slot, and means for maintaining said last-named pin in either of said opposite positions.

2. The improved toggling pliers set forth in claim l wherein the aforesaid means for maintaining the pins in either of said opposite positions comprise bolts slidable medially and athwart the slots in which the pins are adjustable.

3. The improved toggling pliers set forth in claim 1 wherein the aforesaid means for maintaining the pins in either of said opposite positions comprise internal locking surfaces in the slots in which the pins are adjustable.

4. The improved toggling pliers set forth in claim l including a spring carried by the pliers to normally resist closing movement of the jaws.

5. The improved toggling pliers set forth in claim 4, said spring'being anchored at one end to one of the jaws and having a free end abutting one of the handles.

6. Improved toggling pliers comprising a pair of jaws, pivot means between said jaws including a pin carried by one ofsaid jaws and an elongated slot in the other of said jaws whereby said pin is adjustable in two opposite positions in said slot, means including internal locking surfaces in the slots in which the pins are adjustable for maintaining the pin in either of said opposite positions, a pair of handles each having a portion pivoted to each of the jaws, and additional pivot means between said handles, said last-named means including a pin carried by one of said handles and an elongated slot in the other of said handles whereby the last-named pin is adjustable in two opposite positions in said last-named slot, means including internal locking surfaces in said last-named slot for maintaining said last-named pin in either of said opposite positions, and a helical spring having one end abutting one of the jaws and the opposite end abutting one of the handles, said spring normally opposing closing movement of the jaws when the handles are manipulated.

7. Improved toggling pliers comprising a pair of jaws, pivot means between said jaws including a pin carried by one of said jaws and an elongated slot in the other of said jaws whereby said pin is adjustable in two opposite positions in said slot, a bolt slidable medially and athwart said slot, a spring urging said bolt to cross said slot, means on said bolt to withdraw the same against spring pressure to allow passage of said pin from one position of adjustment to the opposite position, a pair of handles each having a portion pivoted to each of the jaws, and additional pivot means between said handles, said last-named means including a pin carried by one of said handles and an elongated slot in the other of said handles whereby the last-named pin is adjustable in two opposite positions in said last-named slot, a second bolt slidable medially and athwart said'last-named slot,

a spring urging said second bolt to cross said slot and means on said second bolt to withdraw the same against spring pressure to allow passage of said last-named pin from one position of adjustment to the opposite position.

8. Improved pliers comprising a pair of jaws adapted to work against one another for grasping an article, each of said jaws including a attened body portion, at least one of said body portions having a recess formed in the surface thereof facing the other of said body portions upon assembly, each of said jaws having a jaw member formed integrally with and extending forwardly from said body, adjustable pivot means for securing said jaws in working relationship, said pivot means located on said body portions proximate said jaw members, a pair of handles, each of said handles including attened head members formed at the forward ends thereof, said head members being pivotally joined to the rearward portions of said jaw bodies, at least one of said head members having a recess formed in the surface thereof facing the other of said head members upon assembly, adjustable pivot means on said head members for securing said handles to one another, and spring means carried in the recesses of said jaw body and said head member and bearing on said jaw bodies and said head members for biasing said jaw members toward an open position.

9. Pliers as claimed in claim 7 wherein said iirst and second named adjustable pivot means comprises a pin carried by one of the members being joined and an elongated slot in the other of the members being joined, said pin being adjustable in two opposite positions in said slot, and a bolt slidable medially and athwart said slot for maintaining said pin in one of the other of said opposite positions of adjustment.

10. Pliers as claimed in claim 7 wherein said rst and second named adjustable pivot means comprises a pin carried by one of the members being joined, an elongated slot formed in the other member being joined, said slot having looped end portions and a tongue depending from said other member within said slot so as to separate partially said looped end portions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 276,417 Jencks Apr. 24, 1883 791,245 Casterlin May 30, 1905 1,763,527 Jones June 10, 1930 2,501,238 Sarsgard et al. Mar, 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 411,000 Germany Mar. 9, 1925 

